Israeli top officials outraged by 'antisemitic' ICJ genocide ruling

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Jan 2024 18:46
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The top Israeli leaders vow to continue the war on Gaza until all "objectives are achieved" regardless of all rulings.

An Israeli tank with soldiers on top stationed on a small hill facing a huge area of civilian buildings and infrastructure destroyed by the Israeli occupation army in Gaza in December 2023 (AFP)

Top leaders in the Israeli occupation expressed on Friday outrage following the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in South Africa's genocide case against the entity regarding its ongoing war on Gaza.

While the court recognized that the Israeli aggression on Gaza falls under the Genocide Convention and that South Africa's case holds plausible merit, it did not call for a ceasefire nor end the war on the Strop and demanded that vague emergency measures be taken, which fall way short of the scope of the tragedy that has befallen Gaza.

The court also commissioned Israeli leaders themselves to prevent their army from "committing acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza" and other crimes and are expected to report back to the court in one month to clarify how the measures were carried out.

But Israelis considered that the mere acknowledgment that "Israel" is involved in what the court described as "possible genocide" acts is enough to tarnish the entity's "international image".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the "outrageous" and "vile" ruling, vowing that the war will continue against "genocidal" Hamas until it reaches its objectives, which as previously declared are to return the captives, "eliminate Hamas", and end the Resistance in Gaza.

Many world countries and international organizations have said earlier that "Israel" is committing crimes against humanity in Gaza, however, Netanyahu said the ICJ's final statement is a "mark of disgrace."

In a statement issued by his office, the Prime Minister said, “The very claim that Israel is carrying out genocide against Palestinians is not only false, it’s outrageous, and the willingness of the court to deliberate it at all is a mark of disgrace that will not be erased for generations."

In a separate video address, Netanyahu said, “On the eve of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I again pledge as prime minister of Israel — Never Again."

On his part, Security Minister Yoav Gallant, who called civilians in Gaza "human animals" at the beginning of the war, described South Africa's genocide case against "Israel" as "antisemitic", saying that the entity “does not need to be lectured on morality” in its war on Gaza and will continue its aggression on the Strip to "dismantle" the Palestinian Resistance Hamas.

“The International Court of Justice in The Hague went above and beyond, when it granted South Africa’s antisemitic request to discuss the claim of genocide in Gaza, and now refuses to reject the petition outright,” he said in a statement.

“Those who seek justice, will not find it on the leather chairs of the court chambers in The Hague — they will find it in the Hamas tunnels in Gaza, where 136 hostages are held, and where those who murdered our children are hiding,” Gallant claimed. “They will find it in the ‘Spirit of the IDF,’ a document that outlines the values and conduct of our moral and professional soldiers.”

Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir described the organization as "antisemitic" that seeks to "persecute Jewish people," asserting that the occupation entity will "do what is necessary" to achieve its goals in Gaza.

“The decision of the antisemitic court in The Hague proves what was already known: This court does not seek justice, but rather the persecution of Jewish people. They were silent during the Holocaust and today they continue the hypocrisy and take it another step further,” he said.

“Decisions that endanger the continued existence of the State of Israel must not be listened to,” he added. “We must continue defeating the enemy until complete victory.”